tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post2614529031070141924..comments2015-08-01T12:20:47.994-06:00Comments on Cooling Inflammation: Arthritis, Autoimmunity and Arginine DeimidationDr. Art Ayershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01727664149735013259noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-57738943994745283482015-05-15T00:16:05.130-06:002015-05-15T00:16:05.130-06:00Hello Dr Art Ayers,
Just came across your blog an...Hello Dr Art Ayers,<br /><br />Just came across your blog and this article while doing a google search for L-arginine and osteoarthritis.<br /><br />I am from India and have been giving my mother, 71 years, L-arginine 5 gms daily since the last 6 months as a preventive for heart health.<br /><br />Since the last 2 months she has been complaining of her osteoarthritis deteriorating - could this be due to the L-arginine supplement that I am giving.<br /><br />I read your article but am not able to understand exactly what it says.<br /><br />Please help. God bless you.<br /><br />DeepakDeepak Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600650009804547522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-7965952607512803172014-12-22T14:00:50.081-07:002014-12-22T14:00:50.081-07:00My mom thinks that she has arthritis, and she&#39;...My mom thinks that she has arthritis, and she&#39;s been in a lot of pain. I think that it would be great for her to get something with the pain. In fact, I didn&#39;t know that the pain was caused by the arthritis being inflamed. I&#39;m going to do more research about things that I can do to make sure that the inflammation doesn&#39;t get any worse. <br /><br /><br />Sara Welsh | <a href="http://www.movebetternow.com/after-back-surgery/" rel="nofollow">http://www.movebetternow.com/after-back-surgery/</a>Sara Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02364426823518122840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-74815471907112714722014-02-27T03:35:04.426-07:002014-02-27T03:35:04.426-07:00For More Information About best acne treatment in ...For More Information About <a href="http://www.skindelhi.com/acne_scar.html" rel="nofollow">best acne treatment in Delhi</a>, Please Check my Site http://www.skindelhi.com/acne_scar.html<br />John Dudleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414023777592108747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-90467476684988783622011-01-24T14:21:21.859-07:002011-01-24T14:21:21.859-07:00Jay,
The fibers or matrix that holds a biofilm bac...Jay,<br />The fibers or matrix that holds a biofilm bacterial community together is made of polysaccharides that can be different for each major species of bacteria in a biofilm, in the same way that different bacteria synthesize different polysaccharides (LPS) that are the different antigens of the bacteria.<br /><br />Humans and plants also coat the surfaces of individual cells and tissues with polysaccharides. In the case of humans, the polysaccharides are GAGs (glycosaminoglycans, e.g. heparin, chondroitin sulfate) and in plants they are pectins, xyloglucans, cellulose, etc. In most cases, including bacteria, the matrix is made of acidic polysaccharides.<br /><br />Humans can only produce enzymes to degrade starch (which is a storage polysaccharide in plants and animals). All other polysaccharides are soluble fibers that are digested in the colon by bacterial enzymes. The bacteria produce short chain fatty acids that are the major energy source for the colon.<br /><br />Biofilm polysaccharides can be digested only by enyzmes specific to each of hundreds of different polysaccharides. The links between the strands of polysaccharide are, however, made of common materials, either metal ions (calcium, magnesium, zinc, etc.) or proteins. Proteins bind to polysaccharides with a combination of common and unique bonds. The common bonds are typically through hydrophobic interactions between the hydrophobic sides of sugars and hydrophobic parts of protein amino acids, e.g. trytophan, tyrosine, arginine, lysine. PEG can break up these types of bonds and is used in total bowel irrigation prior to colonoscopy.<br /><br />The bottom line is that amylase won&#39;t impact biofilms, but chelators such as EDTA or large amounts of proteases can have some impact. In most cases a careful change of diet and exposure to lots of different bacteria to improve gut flora is a more sound approach to changing gut biofilms.<br /><br />Thanks for your comment/questions.Dr. Art Ayershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01727664149735013259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-79945562098341701352010-12-02T20:21:52.062-07:002010-12-02T20:21:52.062-07:00great blog!
I have no idea if you are still activ...great blog!<br /><br />I have no idea if you are still active here or reading these comments but I wanted to ask you something about biofilms and enzymes<br /><br />If I&#39;m understanding you correctly the enzymes that are most likely to be effective against biofilms are those that hydrolyze polysaccharide. Is that correct?<br /><br />If so, then wouldn&#39;t amylase and cellulase be effective against biofilms?Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-79913234880614246252010-07-20T19:24:30.211-06:002010-07-20T19:24:30.211-06:00Hi Tanya,
I just skip the DAG and certainly don&#3...Hi Tanya,<br />I just skip the DAG and certainly don&#39;t use canola and soy oils. I just add cream to the shakes. It seems to me that what is important in the first two weeks of the Eades 6-Week Cure Diet is lack of alcohol and other drugs that are hard on the liver, low carbs (especially those containing fructose), no grain and no vegetable oils. That leaves saturated fats in dairy and eggs, and olive oil. The shakes provide whey protein and leucine is added to avoid using muscle protein. Supplements provide necessary vitamins and minerals. There is one low carb meal a day to help the gut flora limp along as it is starved for carbs and gets used to a meat and veggies diet.<br /><br />Keep me posted.Dr. Art Ayershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01727664149735013259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-12857874189631010972010-07-20T17:32:28.286-06:002010-07-20T17:32:28.286-06:00Dr Ayers...one more question on the diet. They rec...Dr Ayers...one more question on the diet. They recommend DAG/Enova oil...which apparently is canola oil and soybean oil...to be added to shakes etc. I am figuring on using olive oil instead. I don&#39;t even think Enova is on the market anymore...what did you do with that recommendation, and the one about no caffeine! <br /><br />I don&#39;t know which will be harder...no caffeine the first two weeks (I&#39;m going decaf) or no dairly the next two (it is a mainstay for me and so easy).Tanyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-8275848105746424982010-07-19T15:35:04.954-06:002010-07-19T15:35:04.954-06:00Hi Anna,
I think that all of your suggestions are ...Hi Anna,<br />I think that all of your suggestions are very useful for a low carb, high fat diet. The issue that is being addressed is destabilizing the existing gut flora, not supporting a gut flora appropriate to the new diet.<br /><br />I think that there is something special about the milk-derived whey protein shakes. Milk attacks most normal gut flora. Milk is adapted to inhibit the growth of all bacteria except the one or two species that stimulates the initial development of the gut and the gut-associated lymphatic tissue. <br /><br />Raw milk attacks adult gut flora and adult gut flora inactivates the anti-microbial components in milk. That is why a single bottle of formula increases the disease susceptibility of an otherwise exclusively breastfed baby -- the formula permits adult gut flora to take over the gut and inactivate subsequent breast milk.<br /><br />The point of the whey is to attack the existing gut flora and stimulate ejection of the damaged biofilms by the induced mild diarrhea. The disrupted gut flora are no longer able to contribute to the metabolic set point and change of weight is facilitated. It is also easier to reestablish the gut flora consistent with the new, low carb diet.<br /><br />To some extent raw egg whites would attack gut flora similarly to whey, but most people don&#39;t easily quaff slimy whites. Cooking inactivates most of the enzymes, iron chelators and vitamin sequestoring proteins in egg whites.<br /><br />So the point of the whey shakes is whey rather than protein.<br /><br />Note that I am adding a spin on the Eades 6 Week Cure diet that is not presented by the Drs. Eades. I am trying to explain additional reasons why it is effective.<br /><br />Thanks for the info and comments.Dr. Art Ayershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01727664149735013259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-601985798213926452010-07-19T14:49:24.311-06:002010-07-19T14:49:24.311-06:00I&#39;ve been giving the protein shakes some thoug...I&#39;ve been giving the protein shakes some thought lately. If one does not have an issue with consuming raw eggs, is there any reason why whey protein powder must be used in the Eades 6 wk shakes (or any version of a protein shake), instead of say, 2-4 raw eggs or several raw egg yolks? <br /><br />That&#39;s how I&#39;ve been making my &quot;on-the-go&quot; meals lately when the need arises. With just yolks I can use just a fork or spoon to mix them, as the yolks mix smoothly with little effort, but if I use whole raw eggs I use a hand-held blender to break up the thicker egg whites. I got this idea for &quot;real food&quot; shakes after flipping through Aajonus Vonderplanitz&#39; interesting book, The Recipe For Living Without Disease. <br /><br />To the eggs I add various combinations of other ingredients to achieve different flavors, as well as probiotics, prebiotics, natural fats, fat soluble vitamins, an and so on, such as 1-3 tablespoons raw cream or TJ heavy cream (NOT &quot;ultra-pasteurized&quot;), a &quot;glug&quot; of raw whole milk, a 1/4 whole milk yogurt, some coconut milk, 1-2 tbl MCT oil (NOW brand, not Novartis&#39; $$$ medical version), a heaping scoop of dark Dutched cocoa powder, a shot or two of cold espresso, a handful of frozen berries, and so on. If I used fruit I leave out the cocoa and coffee. <br /><br />One of my favorites is with yolks only (no whites), cream/milk, a touch of honey, and fresh nutmeg - far better than any store-bought egg nog.<br /><br />If I add supplements, I use inulin powder and/or pectin, a drop of K2 oil, d-Ribose, and sometimes Vit D drops. <br /><br />I add cold water or refrigerator tea (black, green, and/or herbal) and/or broken ice depending on the temp/ thickness/flavor I am after. <br /><br />I find these shakes are very fast to mix and clean-up (with practice), the sweetness level is easy to customize, they are much cheaper and certainly less processed than protein powders, and if the fat content is high enough they are very filling. I tend to use little or no sweetening (inulin powder is slightly sweet) for myself, but my son prefers them with a small amount of honey or maple syrup. Personally, I am not opposed to a small amount of Splenda-sweetened flavored syrups, either, but I don&#39;t generally use them for myself.<br /><br />What do you think of making meal replacement shakes with raw eggs/yolks for protein instead of powders?Annahttp://www.againstthegrainblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-37608099774288358962010-07-19T13:58:49.922-06:002010-07-19T13:58:49.922-06:00Tanya,
I think that a lot of people would sympathi...Tanya,<br />I think that a lot of people would sympathize with the desirability and difficulty of starting and maintaining a garden. I have been focusing on building and tiling a new shower and my garden (and blog) has suffered.<br /><br />I don&#39;t think that the details of the Eades 6-week Cure Diet are as important as the rationales. Unfortunately, I think that the whey shakes, although essentially synthetic and unnatural, are very effective in disrupting gut flora to shift a metabolic set point and to change to a new diet. The artificial sweeteners are just to make the whey shakes more palatable. Most people are used to sweet drinks and essentially all sweeteners are either of questionable safety, carbs or both. The only exception is Stevia, which is a protein, but their is a suggestion that sweeteners of any type may elevate carb responses, e.g. insulin increase, via their taste reception in addition to glucose transporters.<br /><br />Aside from the health risks of artificial sweeteners, I have a problem with their taste -- the lingering saccharine sweetness.<br /><br />I don&#39;t think that tolerating artificial sweeteners or doing without sweetening, or any of the problems associated with two weeks of a gut treatment diet is a big deal in order to switch to a new diet that is healthy and can be enjoyed and sustained. That basic, anti-inflammatory diet is powerful enough to tolerate all of the other contaminants in our foods. My impression is that most people follow the advice of the medical community, which encourages a disease-causing inflammatory diet, and then those same people obsess over environmental contaminants that have a very minor impact on health.<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughtful explanation.Dr. Art Ayershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01727664149735013259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-33222010653406677002010-07-19T13:24:35.714-06:002010-07-19T13:24:35.714-06:00Anna
I appreciate your post. We have looked at th...Anna<br /><br />I appreciate your post. We have looked at the square foot gardening info before actually. But my recent surgeries/stroke sidelined our preparation for it. Also I work full time, and my husband basically ranches full time for his dad and cares for our children most of the time. We also have a business and church offices which take time. <br /><br />So while we have the space (but poor native soils), water (albeit we pay for it..we are arid here) etc it is not practical for us to grow enough to really be a main stay, canning, etc. Not to mention this year the grasshoppers ate our garden overnight, what little the girls/dad had planted. We are infested this year! <br /><br />I realize some may say my priorities are out of line but one can&#39;t garden in the dark...which is what it is when I get home from work and done with supper/dishes/prep for the next day. I spend my weekends on housework, time with my family, etc. I love to garden, flowers esp, but have had zero success in 15 yrs due to conditions and competition for the time and plants (hoppers!, horses out...etc!!) :-) If life allows, it would be a nice milestone to get a real garden going and growing next year.<br /><br />We have a grocery store in the town where I work, but it has limited offerings due to distance, volume, etc. There is a farmers market but again limited by our population and climate and the hoppers this year. The nearest chain supermarket is 100 miles. I went Friday and spent $200 at the health food store on the vitamins, protein shakes (what I meant to say when I said &#39;protein&#39; in my earlier post), etc for the diet, and then ordered another $50 online...and did not get any &#39;food&#39;!<br /><br />Don&#39;t mention rabbits to my girls...they have been bugging for pet ones forever. And I don&#39;t think they, even being farm kids, would take kindly to the eating of them. We know one family that does that and it was not popular (they had played with the rabbits on visits and then they were gone...) <br /><br />My friend has chickens so we eat fresh eggs, and our own beef. As I said before chicken and my husband don&#39;t mesh, and the blood-type diet that had been discussed on this blog states that I am to avoid chicken also, and cured meats. Turkey is encouraged, and when time allows I buy one and roast, make soup, etc. from it.<br /><br />My daughter and I tried hydroponics for a science fair project and we failed miserably...twice! The sprouted seeds info sound intriguing. I hope to check it out sometime. <br /><br />My main comments on the diet, Dr. A, would be they still advocate artificial sweeteners, hotdogs, and other things that really make me shake my head. As for my husband, I have no doubt that there is a dental component as well, and that his eating habits are the culprit. I&#39;ll let you know how it goes.Tanyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-51266248068833136622010-07-19T12:11:31.985-06:002010-07-19T12:11:31.985-06:00Tanya,
You said, &quot;&quot;100 miles to get the...Tanya,<br /><br />You said, &quot;&quot;100 miles to get the protein, more veggie varieties etc, as our small town doesn&#39;t offer that.&quot; <br /><br />May I make a suggestion in regards to your distance going to town for groceries? <br /><br />Have you considered keeping a garden for veggies, as well as some chickens for eggs and meat? Keeping rabbits also come to mind for a meat option. You also indicated your husband is a rancher, so to me that suggests you probably have the space and no doubt, the DIY ability to set up a protected chicken run, coop, and simple raised garden beds (I esp like Mel Bartholomew&#39;s Square Foot Gardening method for easy crops with minimal effort and time investment. Straw bale gardening is another option. Many no-till methods can be investigated online, at the library, or in magazines such as Acres USA, Mother Earth News, and Permaculture. There are so many innovative no-till methods of producing delicious healthy home-grown produce that is both space- and labor-saving - not even requiring a shovel, let alone tilling and back-breaking hours hoeing the rows. <br /><br />If even no-till gardening isn&#39;t an option for you, have you considered sprouting seeds? Micro-gardening with sprouts produces incredibly nutrient- dense veggies that only take minutes of effort and minimal cost, though it does take some attention to establishing a routine to ensure a steady supply. There are a multitude of great sprouting systems available for every level of sprouting production, but my favorite is Easy Sprout: http://www.sproutpeople.com/devices/ez/easysprout.html<br /><br />Here are some links about keeping chickens.<br /><br />http://successwithpoultry.blogspot.com<br />http://www.self-sufficient-life.com<br />http://www.keepingchickensnewsletter.com/site<br /><br />I realize there may be other reasons unknown to me why you must rely on store-bought foods, but these ideas came to mind when I read your comment.Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033443643442246531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-20717670876108264902010-07-18T12:31:31.429-06:002010-07-18T12:31:31.429-06:00Hi Tanya,
I think that inflammation is the issue. ...Hi Tanya,<br />I think that inflammation is the issue. Vit.D production by the skin in sunlight is blocked by inflammation. He needs to supplement and then retest his serum level. Low vit.D is inflammatory.<br /><br />Diet is the major source of inflammation, but dental problems are a close second.<br /><br />My impression is that most gall bladder problems stem from insufficient dietary fat. In other words, to keep bile flowing both the source of the bile, dietary fat, and the stimulus for bile release, dietary fat, must be adequate.<br /><br />GERT is sometimes caused by inadequate stomach acid production -- inadequate to trigger closure of the valve into the stomach. Evening eating, close to bedtime, contributes to the problem.<br /><br />I hope that your gut flora adjustment helps.Dr. Art Ayershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01727664149735013259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-13068696232870716062010-07-15T20:48:43.748-06:002010-07-15T20:48:43.748-06:00Thanks for clarifying how the whey and glutathione...Thanks for clarifying how the whey and glutathione are connected. <br /><br />My husband has an intolerance for chicken fat and milk fat. He eats all the fat with his steak, and that doesn&#39;t bother. But his recent onset of chest tingles/pain that he feared was cardiac has now been diagnosed as reflux...has small hiatal hernia. Only thing that helps is valium and he only takes it when it is unbearable. Gallbladder has been my working theory with him from a long time ago because of no better solution. It may just be bad gut flora, although he as a rancher is exposed to lots of flora and fauna. His vit d was 15 but he won&#39;t take any...he says he gets enough sun but he wears long sleeves and pants and long hair (to protect his neck) so the only sun in on his face/neck and hands...not much D there..and he&#39;s always more red than anything...can you say inflammation????<br /><br />I have been reading the book, and as you have also said, the diet shift should help him if we can get through the initial unpleasant stages. His soda consumption and chewing tobacco are habits that need to change as well. He has severe neuropathic reaction when he quits chewing, even using the slow cutback method. It will be a couple weeks before we start, as I need to cut back my coffee intake and have to travel ~100 miles to get the protein, more veggie varieties etc, as our small town doesn&#39;t offer that.Tanyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-72076389599024900612010-07-15T18:54:49.001-06:002010-07-15T18:54:49.001-06:00Tanya,
As far as I know, milk doesn&#39;t contain ...Tanya,<br />As far as I know, milk doesn&#39;t contain much glutathione, but rather has a good supply of cysteine, the sulfur amino acid in glutathione. So eating milk products, e.g. whey, is a good way to supplement your glutathione supply.<br /><br />Whey is just a bunch of proteins, so like tofu, it doesn&#39;t have much taste. That is why the 6 Week Cure diet uses it in the form of whey shakes with cream and various flavorings. It is just the cheapest form of protein without many carbs and with lactoferrin. It is just for temporary consumption as a cheap, somewhat natural medication to adjust gut flora while shifting away from carbs as an energy source.<br /><br />Is your husband&#39;s gall bladder problem related to eating too little fat? If so, after he adjusts, the new low carb diet should be a big help.<br /><br />Thanks for the comments/questions.Dr. Art Ayershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01727664149735013259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-55789403882417217192010-07-11T17:09:06.856-06:002010-07-11T17:09:06.856-06:00Regarding glutathione and NAC
I read that whey pr...Regarding glutathione and NAC<br /><br />I read that whey protein is a greate source of glutathione...so combined with Dr. Ayers other comments about the 6 wk cure, I ordered the book. I will say I have tried whey protein powder and it was yucky. I am hoping there are different brands that don&#39;t taste like chalk.<br /><br />I bought some NAC but haven&#39;t taken it. One of the side effects I read was irreg. heart rythym, which is one of the possible complications of my recent heart surgery, so am reluctant to try it on that account.<br /><br />I&#39;ll let you know how the 6wk deal goes once we get going. I am going to try and get my husband to do it also, but since he has troubles with milk (gallbladder I think?) I am not sure how the whey will go for him. He&#39;s so miserable now I hope it will help and not make it much worse so he will keep going with it.<br /><br />I have resorted to taking aspirin and alleve, and it has helped enough that I can function and the dizziness is reduced. I hope the 6 wk cure will be so I can get off them and be well.Tanyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-59627864755255262232010-07-02T16:05:30.842-06:002010-07-02T16:05:30.842-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.merrybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14711293797065642177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-74934573997055234162010-07-01T10:50:59.553-06:002010-07-01T10:50:59.553-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.merrybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14711293797065642177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-9704960746436934902010-06-18T12:49:16.925-06:002010-06-18T12:49:16.925-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.merry beehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14711293797065642177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-54053905440927923412010-06-18T10:41:04.780-06:002010-06-18T10:41:04.780-06:00Anonymous,
Starch is a polysaccharide made of a se...Anonymous,<br />Starch is a polysaccharide made of a series of glucose molecules linked together in long chains. It is the only polysaccharide that can be digested by the body&#39;s enzymes in saliva and intestines. Starch in food is present in crystals that dissolve quickly in hot water to make thick gels, e.g. gravy or sauces.<br /><br />Starch in foods such as cereal, pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, bananas, baked goods/pastries (see Wikipedia) is very quickly degraded by saliva amylase to produce sugar fragments that release glucose into the stomach and upper parts of the intestines.<br /><br />Starch should be considered a simple sugar for its rapid impact on blood sugar. Starch produces a rapid rise in blood sugar, followed by a rapid rise in blood insulin that causes the blood sugar to be converted into fat. The result is a rapid drop in blood sugar that produces hunger and lethargy. <br /><br />Starchy foods make you hungry for more starchy foods. Many low fat foods contain high amounts of starch. It is very hard to lose weight with starch as the major calorie source and that is why a diet that replaces the starch with saturated fats makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Starch is not needed.<br /><br />Other dietary polysaccharides (carbohydrates) in plants are digested by gut bacteria and are called fiber. The bacteria use these carbs to produce short chain fatty acids that feed the colon.<br /><br />Thanks for the question.Dr. Art Ayershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01727664149735013259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-85769267851890098982010-06-18T10:13:39.073-06:002010-06-18T10:13:39.073-06:00Merrybee,
Constipation doesn&#39;t actually come a...Merrybee,<br />Constipation doesn&#39;t actually come and go. I would say that you have eliminated most of your gut bacteria and the small amounts of stool that remain are determined by undigested material. That is the way that most people incorrectly view gut function. Normal stools are not made up of undigested fiber, but rather bacteria, gut flora.<br /><br />I doubt that past episodes of honey or vitamin C or major dietary changes contributed to your loss of gut flora. The simplification of your gut flora probably came as you simplified your diet in response to increasing food intolerances.<br /><br />In short, your gut flora is dysfunctional, but can be fixed by persistence in increasing the variety in your diet and recruiting the missing bacteria.<br /><br />Acetylcysteine (NAC) is one of many synonyms (check Wikipedia) for this nutritional chemical that is available over the counter or in health food stores. Oxidative stress is a symptom, is not hard to avoid, but is due to dietary problems or disease. It does not occur naturally, nor is it environmental. It is directly related to inflammation, which is also just a management issue.<br /><br />I think that you should keep track of the possible intestinal yeast infection, since most of your symptoms could result from intestinal candidiasis.<br /><br />Serum 25(OH)D is a blood test done by a doctor. Most people with symptoms of inflammation, such as you, are low in vit. D. You are taking very low levels of vit.D in your cod liver oil. I would recommend using vit.D3 capsules instead. You will probably have to take very high levels for a short time to bring your serum 25(OH) test levels up to about 50ng/ml. The high initial doses are needed to overcome inflammation, that interferes with the ability to produce vit.D by sunlight on your skin. Subsequently, you can take 2000-5000 IU/day of vit.D3. Be forewarned, that most people test low for vit.D, then supplement and still remain low, because they never got over the initial inflammation caused by the vit.D deficiency.<br /><br />You situation is certainly treatable. I would also say that many people are in the same situation with respect to their disrupted gut flora/constipation, but they just have different symptoms.<br /><br />Keep me updated.Dr. Art Ayershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01727664149735013259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-16128356532142853852010-06-17T12:31:13.558-06:002010-06-17T12:31:13.558-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.merrybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14711293797065642177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-50754734086206512822010-06-17T12:11:44.278-06:002010-06-17T12:11:44.278-06:00Dr. Ayers, what do you consider a starch? Potatoe...Dr. Ayers, what do you consider a starch? Potatoes seem obvious. What else?<br /><br />Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-64518110968767383612010-06-17T09:11:16.044-06:002010-06-17T09:11:16.044-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.merrybeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14711293797065642177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196334975274806517.post-52552764664748266922010-06-17T00:38:36.892-06:002010-06-17T00:38:36.892-06:00Merrybee,
I see arthritis as a typical autoimmune ...Merrybee,<br />I see arthritis as a typical autoimmune disease that starts with chronic, usually diet-based, inflammation and a disruption of the gut-associated lymphatic system ( GALT, the part of the small intestines that leads into the colon.) The net result is an inappropriate antibody attack on body tissue that is not suppressed by immune cells that would be produced in the GALT.<br /><br />Probiotics help support the gut flora around the GALT and are needed for development of a healthy immune system.<br /><br />It sounds like your gut flora were damaged by the vegetarian diet and that was the source of chronic inflammation and damaged GALT that resulted in an immune reaction to common meat components. I will write an article today on the major antigen, Neu5Gc, that is also involved in milk allergies in infants.<br /><br />I think that you are suppressing attack on your joints by keeping GALT disfunctional by disrupting normal gut flora with a restricted diet. You may also have intestinal candidiasis or Helicobacter pylori infection in your stomach. If you have used lots of NSAIDs, then you also have leaky gut and plenty of bacteria, e.g. Clamydia pneumonia, distributed throughout your body at sights of local inflammation.<br /><br />Your symptoms are consistent with significant gut dysbiosis that frequently also produces constipation.<br /><br />The typical response for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases is to follow the basic guidelines for the anti-inflammatory diet that I recommend.<br /><br />Test your serum vit.D, supplement to &gt;70ng/ml by followup test.<br /><br />Eliminate grain/starch/sugar.<br /><br />Eliminate vegetable oils (use olive, coconut).<br /><br />Increase saturated fats and start supplementing with omega-3 fish oils to reduce symptoms.<br /><br />Check your vit.C tolerance by finding out the minimum amount of vitamin C supplement needed to produce diarrhea. If this is higher than 4grams/d, then you also have oxidative stress and should supplement with acetylcysteine.<br /><br />Try to see if temporary relief from pain in hands and feet can be achieved with menthol (Vicks) and/or castor oil topical applications. Test the impact of vagal stimulation exercises on symptoms.<br /><br />Start to build up your gut flora with probiotics and prebiotics (pectin and inulin-rich veggies.)<br /><br />This approach should help to reduce sensitivity to triggering foods and start rebuilding gut flora as indicated by normal stools (no constipation) and tolerance to a broad range of veggies.<br /><br />Let men know how you do.Dr. Art Ayershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01727664149735013259noreply@blogger.com